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Not one Democrat has defended Israel over Gaza massacre

A boy waves a Palestinian flag, among thousands taking part in a Great March of Return rally along Gaza’s boundary with Israel, east of Jabaliya, 30 March. Israeli snipers opened fire on protesters all along the boundary, killing 14 that day and injuring 1,400 others.

But here’s another remarkable fact that has not been noted: as far as The Electronic Intifada can determine, not one Democrat in the House or Senate has spoken up – at least on Twitter – to defend Israel’s actions.

This may reflect a recognition among Democratic leaders of how toxic Israel is becoming to a large segment of the party’s base.

In the bloodiest day since Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza, Israeli forces killed 18 Palestinians on 30 March, including 14 protesters taking part in Great March of Return rallies near the Gaza-Israel boundary.

About 1,400 more were injured, including 800 by live ammunition. A Human Rights Watch investigation condemned the killings of protesters as “calculated” and warned Israeli leaders that they could face prosecution in international courts for the illegal attacks on unarmed civilians who posed no danger whatsoever.

With more marches planned by Palestinians in coming weeks, Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has published ads in Israeli media urging soldiers to disobey patently illegal orders to shoot at unarmed demonstrators.

We are publishing newspaper ads in Israel captioned “Sorry Commander, I cannot shoot” clarifying to soldiers that they must refuse to open fire on unarmed demonstrators in Gaza. This unusual step is following Friday’s events, when soldiers used live fire & killed 12 Palestinians pic.twitter.com/NMxHJ5jyru

Congressional silence

On Monday, Said Arikat, the Washington correspondent of the Palestinian newspaper Alquds, reported that Senator Bernie Sanders was the only one of 535 US lawmakers to criticize Israel’s actions.

But Vermont’s Sanders was then followed by representatives Betty McCollum of Minnesota and Barbara Lee of California.

I am horrified by the tragic wounding & killing of Palestinian protesters in Gaza last Friday. Attacks on peaceful Palestinian protesters must end, and the U.S. & the international community must do more to support a resolution to the conflict. https://t.co/gloUgvPmpD

Deeply concerned about of the killings of peaceful Palestinian protests on Gaza border. The US and international community must come together immediately to put an end to this conflict and work to improve conditions for the people of #Gaza.https://t.co/BpQxQZjc0u

Ellison has previously been an outspoken defender of Palestinian rights but self-censored as he sought election in 2016 as chair of his party’s governing body, the Democratic National Committee.

Ellison lost that race but was appointed vice-chair by winner and staunch Israel supporter Tom Perez.

Leahy law

An aide to Patrick Leahy, Sanders’ fellow Democratic senator from Vermont, told the publication Splinter that Israel’s actions in Gaza should be considered in light of a US law that prohibits aid to foreign military units that engage in human rights violations.

Leahy hasn’t tweeted about the matter.

But in 2016, Leahy himself and 10 fellow lawmakers, urged the US government to investigate abuses by Israeli and Egyptian forces under the law that bears Leahy’s name.

Splinterreported that none of the other 98 current members of the Senate – Democrat or Republican – had any comment on Gaza at all.

No support

That’s about it as far as criticism of Israel’s bloody attack in Gaza goes.

But how about support?

The Electronic Intifada performed a search of the Twitter accounts of every House and Senate Democrat.

As of Wednesday morning, not one of them had tweeted any statement in support of Israel’s narrative – debunked by Human Rights Watch and others – that Israel was defending itself against a “terrorist” threat.

The silence was universal, even among outspoken Democratic supporters of Israel or sponsors of pro-Israel legislation, such as Florida Representative Lois Frankel, Illinois Representative Brad Schneider and New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

Even Democrats who had spoken out in favor of Israel’s “right to self-defense” during its bloody 2014 assault on Gaza, such as representatives Gene Green of Texas and Rick Larsen of Washington, are apparently not publicly prepared to toe the same line this time around.

I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Hamas. It is my hope for an expedient and lasting peace.

John Lewis won’t speak up

One particularly notable silence is perhaps that of civil rights hero Representative John Lewis of Georgia.

As someone who famously marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, in the face of brutal state forces determined to maintain segregation, Lewis might have been expected to say something in support of civilians in Gaza mercilessly gunned down for demanding their rights.

But instead, the only tweet related to Israel on Lewis’ account dates from 2015, and it appears to use a reference to another iconic civil rights struggle – against segregated buses – to emphasize the congressman’s support for Israel.

.@Talkmaster I don't take a backseat to anyone in my commitment and support of Israel.

Democrats in Israel

.@NancyPelosi and @RepAdamSchiff met with Israeli leaders as Israel announced it was sending "dozens of snipers" to Gaza border. Four days later they shot hundreds of Palestinians. Pelosi and Schiff have issued no criticism of the shootings. https://t.co/lzEyew9c6K#Gaza

While several participants tweeted out photos from their trip, none offered any criticism for Israel’s violence against Palestinians in Gaza. But neither did any speak up in support.

It was a pleasure to share America’s congratulations with @PresidentRuvi & Prime Minister @Netanyahu as Israel prepares for the upcoming 70th anniversary of its birth. The candid & open dialogue that has long existed between our two countries is a source of continued strength. pic.twitter.com/r0xs95JFK0

On March 6, representatives from the South Florida’s @AIPAC met with members of my staff to discuss various issues related to Israel while in town for the group’s annual legislative conference. pic.twitter.com/mHuYbOl2Ra

I sat down with @AIPAC to discuss the continue hostility of Iran towards Israel. Congress must continue to support our critical ally in the region and work to strengthen our relationship with Israel. pic.twitter.com/G5BLdvRC31

If anyone was willing to publicly sell Israel’s claim that deploying snipers against civilians was necessary self-defense, it ought to have been him.

But even Cardin may see which way the wind is blowing. AIPAC has been having trouble recruiting Democrats to back Cardin’s bill and its leadership has recently admitted that progressives are deserting Israel.

What the Democrats’ Twitter record following the Gaza massacre suggests is that while a tiny number have the courage to speak up for Palestinian rights, none sees an advantage in defending Israel’s indefensible crimes.

They may not have disembarked yet, but it seems that a good many rats are packing up their cheese and crackers, trying to locate that flotation vest, and sending discreet ship-to-shore messages inquiring after emergency accommodation.